The Department of Agriculture has allocated P855,788,090 for Negros Occidental, the bulk of which will be used to boost the province’s rice production and for farm to market roads, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson said on Friday, January 26.
Regional Executive Director Dennis Arpia of the Department of Agriculture 6 met with Lacson this week to brief him on the DA projects for Negros Occidental in 2024.
He said allocated for Negros Occidental is P410,000,000 for farm to market roads, rice production – P363,926,290, livestock – P55,450,000, high value crops development – P8,505,000, Special Area for Agriculture Development – P7,603,000, national urban and peri-urban agriculture – P4,485,000, organic agriculture – P4,010,000, and corn – P1,808,800.
Lacson said he asked the DA submit to him a list of its targeted farm to market roads so there will be no duplication with those being constructed by the provincial government.
“Another good news is Regional Executive Director Arpia will be stationed in Negros on a monthly basis. Meaning to say he’s gonna give time and stay here in Negros so he can focus on their plans for the province,” Lacson said.
The DA is committed to assist the rice farmers increase their production from 4.5 tons per hectare to 6 tons, he added.
The DA is also looking at reviving durian farms in Negros, Lacson said.
Meanwhile, the provincial government in December already released assistance to Ilog farmers whose pigs died from African Swine Fever last year, he said.
Next month assistance will also be released to farmers in Valladolid, San Enrique and Hinigaran, Lacson said.*